Esaimen Hway Part Syaz

7/29/2019 Esaimen Hway Part Syaz

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Abstract

We are all aware of speed bumps existence on the road. However, do we know about how

efficient they are and how they are contributing in polluting the environment? In this study, we

try to investigate about these things particularly regarding speed bumps in University of

Malaya. We want to know what are the views of the students and the staff of UM regarding this

matter. Are the speed bumps really annoyed them? What is the level of pollution of air and

noise are they contributing as claimed by some people? To answer these, we conducted a

survey in order to know more about the views of the students and the staff. We also did some

speed bump inspections to complete our study. We found out that some speed bumps in

University of Malaya were built not according to required specs and also contribute to the

pollution of air and noise.

Introduction

Speed bump is one of the most common road facilities that being used widely around the

world. It was introduced as early as 1906 to reduce accidents. With the presence of speed

bumps, all the motorists, motorcyclists and even cyclists have to slow down their vehicles

before passing through the road so that their vehicles would not fly off the road for a few

milliseconds. Usually, it is implemented in the area before a junction and a crossing. In these

areas, vehicles passing through must be slowed down as there might be movements of other

vehicles to and fro at the sides of the road and there might also pedestrians crossing the road.


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Without the speed bumps, the moving vehicles might crash into other vehicles at the junction

as well as hitting a crossing pedestrian.

However, this road facility does have its own bad points. Sometimes, the design of the

speed bumps is not according to the required specs. The speed bumps might have edges that

are nearly 90o

to the ground. This situation forces the road users to really slow down their

vehicles nearing stopping the vehicles or they will experience a jerk or a little jump off the road.

Besides that, some speed bumps are built with too much height. This kind of speed bumps will

cause the same effects to the road users as in the first case plus there will be also possible

scratching between the road surface and the lower part of the body of the vehicles. Apart from

that, speed bumps can also be a nuisance when implemented on steep roads or hilly areas.

Most of the times, they are implemented in that kind of areas in order to slow down the

vehicles coming from the upper part of the road as there may be a junction or a crossing down

the road. We can also find it annoying when it is applied as a pair consecutively over a short

distance. This is really causes the road users to get angry as they need to slow down when their

vehicles just started to accelerate after the first bump.

Speed bumps also raised peoples concern on whether they are contributing in the

pollution of the surrounding environment. Some people believe that the speed bumps cause

more vehicles emissions to the air. This statement is supported by the fact that every motor

vehicle consumes more fuel as it tries to accelerate from a very slow speed to high speed.

When a vehicle confronts a speed bump, the person operating it will slow down his vehicle,

passing the speed bump and start to accelerate to his previous speed. At the moment he tries


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to accelerate, that is when his vehicle will increase its fuel consumption and release more

poisonous gaseous to the environment. There are also claims that the speed bumps create

noise pollution as the vehicles passing through them. This might not be a big problem for many

of us but it might be for some who live or work near the speed bumps.

In University of Malaya (UM), speed bumps have been a familiar road facility to all the

students and the staff. This is mainly due to the road safety enforcement all around the campus

by the management of University of Malaya. Be it on the main roads or in the faculties and the

colleges, speed bumps are present due to certain circumstances. Among the places where a

speed bump is present is the junction near Pusat Asasi Sains UM (PASUM), in front of Dewan

Tunku Canselor (DTC), and the steep road connecting Faculty of Engineering with the Faculty of

Built Environment.

As I mentioned before, the speed bumps could be a nuisance to the road users rather

than an effective road safety facility. In UM, there are some negative comments among the

students and staff stressing out the effectiveness of the speed bumps built around campus. For

example, from my own findings, some people are not satisfied with the design of the speed

bump in front of DTC. They said that the speed bump was too steep at the edges causing their

vehicles to jerk or jump a little if they do not really slow down nearing zero speed. Besides that,

two consecutive speed bumps in front of Jabatan Pembangunan dan Penyelenggaraan Harta

Benda (JPPHB) really get on the road users nerves as their positions are too near to each other.

Plus, the height of the speed bumps is too high, causing a major dissatisfaction among the road

users.


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As we all know, UMCares fight for the preservation and the conservation of the

environment globally in general and also in UM particularly. So, they might be curious about

the effects of the speed bumps are causing to the environment in UM. Are the speed bumps

really contributing in the pollution of air and noise in the campus? We do not know for now for

sure.

So, our purpose of conducting this study is to clarify things regarding the problems of

speed bumps in the University of Malaya. We want to check how effective the speed bumps are

to the road users. In addition, we will also try to investigate about the effects of the speed

bumps on the environment. Hopefully, after the completion of this study, we could indirectly

help in improving the roads in UM and preparing them to be one of the flawless in Malaysia

particularly as well as helping to create a better quality of environment in the campus.

Objectives

In this study, the objectives that we will be trying to achieve include:

i. To study the nature and effectiveness of the speed bumps in University of Malaya

ii. To study the effects of speed bumps on the environment particularly the quality of

air and noise pollution


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Methodology

The study is conducted by using method of obtaining the data among the road user in

University of Malaya. We distributed a questionnaire in form of paper and digitally (online

survey form). As much as 31 respondents completed the survey through paper and another 72

through the online survey. The questionnaire was designed to test the respondent general

knowledge about the speed bump and to know their opinion about speed bump in University of

Malayas road.

Next, we measure the dimension of several speed bumps in University of Malaya. This

action was done in the night time because at night the traffic was less busy so the work went

smooth. This measurement was done to determine whether the bump was suitable for the

area. It is also to determine whether the bump is properly designed and the effectiveness of the

bump in slowing the car. The speed bump that was measured is chosen based on its location.

We choose the speed bumps nearby the area that have many pedestrian using to cross the

road.

Lastly, we used a noise level meter to record the noise level at the road with a speed bump.

Then we compared it with the noise level we obtained from the road without speed bumps. All of these

tests were made along the road in University of Malaya.


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Results

a.Survey

Multiples Questions Answers

Question Answer No. of Respondent

1. Are you or have you

driven any vehicle in

the University of

Malaya?

A. Yes

B. No

81

22

2. Have you

encountered any

speed bumps while

driving in the

campus?

A. Yes

B. No

98

5

3. How do you find

these speed bumps?

A. Comfortable

B. Annoying

C. I dont really notice

22

71

10

4. Do you think that

speed bumps are

good or bad for road

users?

A. Good

B. Bad

73

30


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5. Do you think the

placement locations

of the speed bumps

in the campus are

appropriate?

A. Yes

B. No

63

40

8. Do you think the

speed bumps can

reduce accidents

A. Yes

B. No

82

21

9. Do you think the

roads in the campus

are designed to

facilitate the

pedestrian?

A. Yes

B. No

78

25

Table 1


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Question 1

Question 2

Yes

79%

No21%

Whether have driven any vehicle in campus

Yes

95%

No

5%

Whether have encountered any speed bump in

campus


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From the figures above, we obtained the respond from the road user in the University of

Malaya generally. Based on the answer for question 1, 79% of respondent used to drive

vehicles in University of Malaya. This shows that road vehicles is the major mean of

transportation in the University of Malaya. The vehicles could be car, motorcycles and bus. For

question 2, the road user should encounter speed bumps in University of Malaya so over 95%

answered yes.

Question 3

Comfortable

21%

Annoying

69%

Do not notice

10%

How the students find the performance of

the speed bumps


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Question 4

Question 5

Good

71%

Bad

29%

Whether speed bumps good or bad

Yes

61%

No

39%

Whether placements of speed bumps in

campus are appropriate


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Now, from question 3, 4, and 5 are aims to get opinion from the respondent. Most of

the respondents find it annoying when encountered speed bumps and the rest find it

comfortable and didnt notice it. This is maybe they dont like to slow down their vehicles but

obliged to do so because of the speed bumps existence. When asked on whether speed bumps

are good or bad for road users, 71% of them said the speed bumps are good. In question 5, 61%

of respondent said that the placement of speed bumps is appropriate. This is quite close

difference between positive and negative responds maybe some of the respondent have some

bad experience when encountered speed bumps in University of Malaya.

Question 8

Yes

80%

No

20%

Whether speed bumps can reduce accidents


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Question 9

For question 8, 80% of respondents think speed bumps can reduce accident. This is

because the main reason speed bumps placed on the road is to slow down vehicles in a certain

area thus accident is less prone to happen. In question 9, most of the respondents think that

roads in University of Malaya are designed to facilitate the pedestrian. This is true because

almost all roads in University of Malaya have a pedestrian walk and the zebra crossing is placed

on the high density area such as in front of main library, Dewan Tunku Canselor and many

more.

Yes

76%

No

24%

Whether roads in campus facilitate

pedestrian


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Subjective Questions Answers

Question 6 - Please State ONE location where you think speed bumps are useful

Based on the answer, most of the respondents think the area nearby public building

such as library and Dewan Tunku Canselor is the most appropriate place for speed bumps

because of the pedestrian are normally cross the road to get to their destination. Residential

colleges and faculties also get the attention here because these locations are full with students.

Another popular location is Bukit Cinta, this is maybe the vehicles that going down the hill are

usually fast so speed bumps is a suitable solution for that. Among other location mentioned in

this answer is at the PJ and KL gate, bus stop, T-junction and more.

Question 7 Please state ONE location where you think speed bumps are not useful

This question is the opposite against question 6. Suprisingly, the answer is quite the

same. Location such as residential college and public buildings become popular answer. The

speed bumps on the road between 3rd

College to FSKTM and in front of JPPHB is the most

popular specific answer because there are double speed bumps there and maybe respondent is

annoyed by the placement.

Question 10 Suggest another safety feature than speed bump that can be used in University

of Malaya

The most famous suggestions written were traffic light and zebra crossing. Actually,

these safety features are already available in critical location such as library, faculty, residential

college and Dewan Tunku Canselor. Other suggestions worth to be mentioned are traffic police


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control, pedestrian crossing sign and yellow strip. These suggestions actually can help increase

the road safety in University of Malaya. Other ridiculous suggestions such as AES camera and fly

over were also written by respondents.

b. Noise Monitoring Test

One of the speed bumps located at University of Malaya was choose for noise

monitoring study. One of the speed bumps choose was a speed bump located near to

University of Malaya Centre for Foundation in Science (PASUM)at the Lingkungan Budis road

and the road held toward the entrance to 12th

Residential College. The noise levels at this speed

bump were monitored using a simple noise level meter application. The duration was a total of

15 minutes and the data was recorded every 15 seconds. The control data was taken 200

meters away from the speed bump along the same stretch of road for the same duration. The

results of the monitoring are shown below.

Figure of data collected at an empty stretch of road

0

20

40

60

80

0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000

NoiseLevel(dB)

Time Elapsed (s)


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Figure of data collected at the speed bump

The data collection was carried out at 1800 hours on 12 December 2012 which was

Wednesday at that date. A graph for each data set was plotted using Excel and the average

noise level was calculated for both as shown below.

Lmean(dB)

Without speed bump 55

With speed bump 58

Figure of mean noise levels

The results show that there is an increase of 3 dB at the speed bump compare to the

stretch of road without a speed bump. Though the data may be simple, it shows that the speed

bumps do increase the noise levels emitted by vehicles passing over it.

0

20

40

60

80

100

0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000

No

iseLevel(dB)

Time Elapsed (s)


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c. Speed Bumps Measurements

Most of the comments given by UMs campus community when we distribute our

survey form are they feel uncomfortable with the speed bump or hump located at various place

in UM. Thus, to take an effort, we measure several speed bumps and humps located at UM. The

selected speed bumps and humps for measurement are in conjunction with comments given by

UMs campus community. Several locations of speed bumps and humps selected were

Academy of Islamic Studies, University of Malaya Department of Property and Maintenance

(JPPHB), Faculty of Engineering, University of Malaya, 11th

Residential College, University of

Malaya, and University of Malaya Centre for Foundation in Science (PASUM). The dimensions

were taken and compared with the Malaysian Standard (Adnan Zulkiple, 2009). The results of

these measurements are shown as follows. The standard set by SIRIM for the minimum and

maximum lengths of various speed bump and hump shapes are also shown in the figure

follows.

Figure of a parabolic speed hump located just before the Academy of Islamic Studies


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Figure of another parabolic hump located opposite the University of Malaya Department of

Property and Maintenance (JPPHB)

Figure of a parabolic hump opposite the Faculty of Engineering, University of Malaya


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Figure of standard dimensions for various shapes of speed bumps/humps

For the parabolic humps, two out of three humps exceed the maximum base length set

by the Standard. For the circular bumps, both bumps do not meet the requirements. Thus, it is

significant to follow the standard set up by SIRIM because deviating from the dimensions set by

the standard could lead to unwanted effects. The circular bumps are almost a third shorter than

it should be. The effects of this condition will be discussed further in this paper. Also, it was

noticed that nearly all speed bumps and humps studied did not have the proper signage and

warnings which are stated in the Standard.


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Discussion

For this part, we will discuss about speed bump in affecting physical comfort. We also

will discuss about the effect of speed bump for environment in term of air quality and noise

level.

Physical Comfort

The results of the data collected previously will be discussed to determine the causes

and effects. The reason why most drivers feel that speed bumps are uncomfortable is probably

due to the fact that most speed bumps are not constructed to the specifications laid out by

SIRIM. This was proved by measuring various bumps and humps in the campus. For example,

from the findings, the circular speed bumps are much shorter than required; this causes the

vehicle passing over it to encounter a more rapid change of height faster than if the speed

bump were longer. The property of inertia in matter causes sudden changes in speed or

direction to be more felt than if the changes were gradual. Moreover, if the vehicle was

travelling at speed towards the speed bump, serious damage to the vehicle could occur or

worse, serious injury to the driver and/or its occupants. Speed bumps have been proven to

cause spinal column injury (Aslan E. et al, 2005). In addition, emergency vehicles are forced to

slow down due to these speed bumps. In a letter from the London Ambulance Service to the

London Assembly Transport Committee, Chief Executive Peter Bradley states that, Not only do

speed humps delay our response to calls; they can lengthen the patients journey to hospital.

Furthermore, they can have adverse effect to patient comfort as well as the inevitable jolting

that can be experienced there is also a need on occasions when negotiating speed humps for the


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paramedic or emergency medical technician (EMT) to delay or temporarily cease their

treatment of a patient. In simple terms, speed humps increase mortality rates instead of

decrease it. Apart from that, the absence of proper signage and warning for drivers to slow

down also cause drivers to not be able to slow down in time. This causes damage to vehicles

and possible injury. The Malaysian Standard for signage relating to speed bumps is shown in

Figure follows. According to the Standard, these signs should be placed 110 metres from the

crown of the speed bump.

Figure of speed bump signage design standard for type B and C

Environmental Impact

Air Quality

The first problem of speed bumps is also its primary role which is to slow cars down. Normally,

people might think that a slow car consumes less fuel by which they would be correct.

However, the amount of fuel it takes to get back up to speed is much more than what would


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have been if the driver did not slow down in the first place. This phenomenon is explained by

the concept of inertia. Inertia is the property of objects with mass to resist changes in their

state of motion whether be it at rest or moving. If a car slows down, it is going to require some

work done to get back up to speed again compared to if the car did not slow down at all.

Lets say a car is driving at around 40 km/h and has to slow down to around 10km/h to

pass over a speed bump. A typical car weighs around 2000 kg (Cutnell, J. & Johnson, K., 1998).

Lets say that the driver accelerates at 3 m/s2. Since work is force divided by distance and force

is mass times acceleration, then we can find the work required by the car to accelerate back up

to 40 km/h.

The distance taken by the car to accelerate:

The time taken for the car to accelerate:

Force to accelerate the car from 10 km/h to 40 km/h:

=


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Work done by the car during the acceleration:

250 m) = 1500000 J

On the other hand, if the car did not slow down, then the only work needed to be done

by the cars engine would be that to keep the car at its current speed (overcoming friction). It

may not seem like much, but those extra litres of fuel add up in the long run. Essentially, we

waste the energy obtained by burning the fuel when we slow down approaching speed bumps.

In addition to the wasted fuel, more burned gasoline equals more combustion products. In

other words, more gases such as carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide are released when the

engine burns more fuel to get more energy. One car may not produce a significant increase in

exhaust but given that hundreds of vehicles encounter speed bumps every day, the result is

increased vehicle emissions in the surrounding area. Pedestrians may not be killed by speeding

cars, but be killed by lung cancer.

Noise Levels

The noise levels near speed bumps are shown to be higher than the noise levels where

there are no speed bumps. This occurs because of the impact of the tyre with the speed bump.

Rubber tyres are notoriously known for not being silent if improperly designed. The result is the

same if the speed bump itself is not properly designed. The thump of the tyre impacting the

speed bump is of low pitch which can travel far and bend around corners due to a phenomenon

called diffraction.


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Even streets without any speed bumps may suffer increased noise levels. How? As

drivers learn roads and streets which have speed bumps, they tend to take alternative routes in

order to avoid these speed bumps. As a result, streets which previously suffer only a small

amount of traffic volume a day now have an increase in vehicular activity. Not only do the noise

levels increase, but since there are more cars on that road, the air quality in the area also

decreases and may cause accidents to increase.

Environment effects

1. They are detrimental to the environment, increasing air pollution by forcing cars

to slow well below the speed limit and then accelerate away. We often think that

a slow car consumes less fuel by which they would be correct. However, the

amount of fuel it takes to get back up to speed is much more than what would

have been if the driver did not slow down in the first place.

2. They increase noise levels where they are implemented. Not just by engine and

brake noise from people slowing down and speeding up, but also from trucks and

lorries carrying loads that get bounced around.

3. They can cause serious damage to vehicles, particularly sports cars, even at low

speed.


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4. They slow the response times of emergency vehicles, such as police car and

ambulance. This might cause some unwanted tragedies to occur.

5. They cause uneasiness and back injury to drivers and passengers. This includes

those who travelling on buses that may be walking down aisles or using the

stairs, causing them to fall and damage themselves.

6. They cause vibration when vehicles steer on them and send shockwaves all the

way through the ground. This has been proven to damage nearby properties.

7. They often redirect traffic to alternative residential streets.

8. They cost drivers money by using more petrol and brake pads in addition to the

damage caused to suspension, oil sumps and exhausts et cetera. This often

makes cars more dangerous.

9. When vehicles drive over them with their lights on, this points the dipped beam

up to eye level. This not only causes nearby houses disturbance, but also gives

the illusion of the headlights being flashed, dazzling and causing confusion to

other motorists and often causing accidents.


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10. They are a substitute for active enforcement, even though they do not even slow

down most vehicles.

Recommendations

After they are introduced, the currently deployed foot speed bumps effectively reduce

travel speeds to be consistent with posted speed limits. They also effectively reduce the speeds

of the fastest drivers. However, the campus has limited data available about how speeds on

treated streets change over time. Additional research into the effect of the duration of

installation of speed bumps on travel speeds should be performed.

Traffic volumes decrease on streets treated with speed bumps. The amount of reduction

depends on the speed reduction and the availability of alternate routes. The assumption has

been that traffic diverts to the nearby more appropriate collector or arterial street. Additional

research should be performed to evaluate traffic diversion as a result of installing speed bumps.

Further, the relationship between volume diversion and the availability of alternate routes

should also be evaluated.

The occurrence of crashes reduces with the installation of speed bumps. The decrease in

crashes is strongly driven by the reduction in traffic volumes. Additional research into the

change in crash types as a result of the volume reduction would be valuable.


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Conclusions

Majority of UM students agree that speed bumps in UM are useful and suitable. The

speed bumps manage to minimize the traffic volume, accidents and traffic speed in congested

and busy area such as in front of engineering faculty, in front of the main library, and in front of

the Dewan Tunku Canselor.

However some of the students dissatisfy with some of the installed speed bumps in UM.

They think that the existing speed bumps in certain areas are not suitable to be there. The areas

are at Bukit Cinta and the highway. They claimed the speed bumps there are not necessary and

have minor usage to UM if not none.


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References

1. http://www.portlandoregon.gov/transportation/

2. Adnan Zulkiple. (2009), Speed Hump: Specification for Materials, Design and

Installation.Standards & Quality News, 16(3), 14-17

3. Smith, D.E. & Giese, K. L. (1997). A Study on Speed Humps. Iowa: Iowa StateUniversity

4. Cutnell, J. & Johnson, K. (1998).Physics. (4th Ed.). New York: Wiley

5. Aslan, S., Karcioglu, O.,Katirci, Y., Kandis, H., Ezirmik, & N., Bilir O. (2005). Speed

bump-induced spinal column injury. PubMed, 23(4).
http://www.portlandoregon.gov/transportation/http://www.portlandoregon.gov/transportation/http://www.portlandoregon.gov/transportation/

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